An unexpected piece of outerwear is being reintroduced to the coat check. Capes have been making a comeback on the runway and the red carpet, as seen at Derek Lam and Oscar de la ­Renta and draped on Gwyneth Paltrow's shoulders at the Oscars. We asked six women to give Lauren Ralph Lauren's plaid wool cape their own style. Wool cape, $365, at Lord & Taylor stores.

For Kim, a self-described minimalist, the real pleasure of dressing is in the details. "Some people like to go outside the box with accessories," she says. "A pink bag is an easy fix to spice up your outfit, but I'd rather keep mine classic and simple." LaCrasia gloves, a chunky vintage gold necklace, and understated Prada pumps give a "ladylike touch" to the cape, while a dress by The Row is "feminine with a bit of edge." "The leather makes it not look so 'businesswoman in the '80s with sneakers.'"/p>

SUNGLASSES

"My sunglasses from The Row are a summery touch for fall."

JEWELRY

"This vintage gold necklace adds some extra polish to the cape."

DRESS

"The Row's sheath dress could be really boring, but it's cut so beautifully."

GLOVES

"I like long gloves as an alternative to long sleeves."

BAG

"The classic shape of this Mulberry bag is never going to age."

SHOES

"There's a coziness to the texture of these Prada suede pumps."

FAVORITE THINGS

Shoes: "Stubbs & Wootton slippers."

Bag: "Mulberry."

Jeans: "The Row jean leggings."

Lingerie: "Cosabella."

Style role model: "Diana Vreeland."

Lip color: "Rose Lip Balm."

Fragrance: "Yann Vasnier lets me test his new fragrances. I love his ones for Tom Ford."

Caldwell has a checkered history with capes. "Three years ago I bought a black cape on eBay," she says. "But it went into storage because I couldn't wear it without looking too preppy." This time, she didn't try to hide her playful style, selecting a vintage Pee-wee Herman T-shirt and A.P.C. camouflage pants. "The worst thing you could do is force a look that doesn't match your personality. My posture is different when I'm wearing something I don't feel comfortable in."

GLASSES

"My Moscot glasses are a vintage pair the store had on a dusty shelf."

TOP

"A plain white top would be too boring—and there's never a bad time for this Pee-wee Herman T-shirt."

For Butler, every fall look begins with a leather jacket and boots. And a cape wasn't going to change that. "I didn't know how to wear it at first," she says. "I didn't want to look like Eloise." So she incorporated the cape into her "downtown style"—doubling up on the outerwear and layering the cape over ripped Levi's and a Veda motorcycle jacket to appear "more undone."

SUNGLASSES

"These Moscot frames fit my small face without being overwhelming."

JACKET

"I wanted to mix the texture of the leather with the wool cape."

TOP

"I had to wear my boyfriend's Surface to Air button-down shirt because he borrowed mine!"

JEANS

"My vintage Levi's are on their last legs. I like the high-and-low mix of the shiny boots and ripped-up jeans."

BOOTS

"The green snakeskin on these Dries van Noten boots makes every outfit seem more special—it's a little unexpected."

"I always like to work outside of my comfort zone," says Kao. "Sometimes I pick fabrics that scare me because I want to see what I can do with them." That's exactly how she challenged herself with the wool cape, wrapping and pinning it into a deconstructed skirt to create "a reinterpretation of '90s grunge." Kao also tried converting the cape into a flannel shirt and a baby-doll dress. "I love pieces that are multifunctional."

HAT

"In the fall, I wear a beanie, like this one from Arth, almost every day. It's such an easy accessory."

No matter where she travels, Crane is always on the hunt. "I once did a show about flea markets," she says. "Now, whenever I travel, I try to pick up an item that reminds me of that place." Even if they're not vintage, Crane favors pieces with "old-fashioned character," like these Moscot sunglasses—and capes. "I actually own three."

SUNGLASSES

"The color blends in with my hair, so they don't stand out too much."

TOP

"The H&M top is short and thin, so when you tuck it in it's not too bulky."

Larroudé plays with extravagant clothing for shoots, but when dressing herself, she prefers casual staples. Here, she toned down the cape with Genetic jeans and Gianvito Rossi pumps. "I wanted to do something real," she says. Larroudé's editorial eye did help when she tried the cape with a pencil skirt. "Maybe if I were taller, like Gisele."

TOP

"J.Crew merino cashmere sweaters are warm but light."

BAG

"I prefer bags with minimal logos and hardware, like this one from Calvin Klein."

Whether you are attending the sartorial circus that is fashion month, are watching from a distance or just want to look put together to welcome the new season, chances are you are in the market for some outfit inspiration. You’ve come to the right place.

The most versatile style on the scene, black ankle boots go with everything. While some iterations read classic and sleek, others are tough enough to ground sweeter pieces or feature luxe details that’ll punch up your basics. What’s more, the trending silhouette of the season, the block heel, is possibly the most comfortable style yet. From lace-ups to velvet to military-inspired, here are our favorites—all under $100. — Laura Lajiness

September 21, 2016

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